Saturday, April 23, 2011
Eulogy by Michael E. McGraw, son - April 15, 2011:
On behalf of the McGraw family, it is my honor to welcome you to this celebration of the life of Harold Edward McGraw. Thank you for being here today. Like a multifaceted diamond, our dear Dad and "Pa" was a multidimensional, one-of-a-kind man with more attributes, talents, abilities and character than can be summed up in these few minutes. I cannot say all that needs to be said today. But bear with me as I recall many memories and try to somehow honor this man who touched all our lives in so many ways.
MEMORIES OF THE MAN: Harold McGraw loved life. He loved people and never met a stranger. A man of principles; intelligence AND wisdom;
Harold McGraw loved his family. He was a devoted husband who loved and adored his dear Mary, our mother. And he was THE BEST father who loved his children throughout our lives, from the day we were born until the day he died. Dad always said each of us was totally different, and we were…still are!
Gregg, Susan, Pam and I grew up with the best parents any children could have had. They loved each other, loved us, sacrificed, and worked hard. Dad had to travel a lot for work, but when he wasn't making a living, he was with us - teaching us, showing us how to live by his example and just loving us.
He took his family to Florida for two weeks every summer. The day after school was out, he and Mom packed up the car with everything but the kitchen sink, tossed in the mattress for us kids to sleep on, and we all piled in the car on the two day journey (before interstate highways) to Clearwater, Florida.
Dad taught us everything! He showed all of us how to fish for bluegill. He taught Gregg and me how to hunt. He helped us with our homework - and he was so smart! He especially helped us with math and science, always saying, "It's so easy." He was always helping us and Mom…like carrying the green beans from the house to the car when we would go to Gramma Faulkner's house.
Dad and Mom always supported each of us by going to our recitals, concerts and anything we were involved in.
Dad loved to take pictures. He especially loved "making movies." Every Christmas morning, all of us kids had to WAIT while he set up the 8mm camera and those blinding spot lights were on before we could come out and see our gifts under the Christmas tree.
He loved ice cream; his very first job was dipping ice cream. Almost every Sunday after dinner, he would get all the ice cream and "fill our orders from the bar" in mom's kitchen. And of course he always had to have just one more spoonful before putting the cartons back into the freezer.
Dad was the ultimate Mr. Fix-it. And he could DO EVERYTHING! He was our home electrician, plumber, painter, carpenter, landscaper, mechanic, outdoor cook, and more!
Harold McGraw loved God. He was a man of unswerving faith in God. He was a strong spiritual leader to his family. He read the Bible to us and took us to church. He also taught us to give to the church by giving us coins to put in the offering plate. He "walked the talk" everyday of his life. Personally speaking, he is the reason I am a Christian today.
I know many of you have experienced what our family is experiencing. If it weren't for my own faith in God and belief that the promises of God's Word are true, Dad and Mom's passing, my own life and life in general would be meaningless. So today, in honor of the legacy of faith which our Dad has left, I want to say to you that if you have not come to grips with your own mortality, I invite you to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior today, because as John 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
